Smart People
This new dramedy from Noam Murro is a mixed bag in that it can meander at times, but is also genuinely hilarious more than it wallows.Lawrence Wetherhold (Dennis Quaid) is an English professor who has to be driven around for 6 months after possibly suffering a seizure. Enter Chuck (Thomas Haden Church), his scheming and […]
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller have set an early benchmark for comedies this year with the winner that is Forgetting Sarah Marshall!Peter just got dumped by “sexpot” TV star Sarah Marshall and decides, after a few weeks of promiscuity and wallowing in the remains of his relationship, that he should go to Hawaii to get […]
Stop-Loss
Kimberly Peirce’s latest starts off with an exceptional bang, but quickly makes a turn for the worse and devolves into a meandering road film that fails to captivate us nor really care about the fate of these characters.The film starts in Iraq where we get a quick credits sequence that effectively captures the life of […]
The Grand
This poker mockumentary from Zak Penn is funny and excellent addition to this sub-genre of films that there needs to be more of.Woody Harrelson is the closet to a lead as “One Eyed” Jack Faro in this ensemble piece about a poker tournament, “The Grand”, with a few million dollars at stake that will let […]
Leatherheads
George Clooney’s latest directorial effort is a pretty entertaining affair, if you know what to expect going in. And what should you expect you might ask? The movie is a throwback homage to the screwball comedies of yesteryear and does an excellent job of capturing the spirit and fun of those films.Set in the 20’s […]
Silk
François Girard up to the magnificent Red Violin is a mixed bag that starts of great and slowly devolves into something not quite as great. The film follows Michael Pitt as Hervé Joncour who decides to take on the job of a silk merchant who travels from France to Japan to get the most pure […]
The Other Boleyn Girl
This adaptation of the hit novel fails to create any real emotion nor evokes us to really care about our leads or anyone involved in this historical period piece.Scarlet Johansen and Natalie Portman star as Mary and Anne Boleyn, respectively, starting off as pawns in their families bid to gain favor and power with King […]
Southland Tales
Richard Kelly’s long delayed and highly anticipated follow up to super cult hit Donnie Darko is an entertaining film that upon first viewing is a bit all over the place, but seems to most likely benefit from repeat viewings.The film stars a trio of actors, Dwayne “don’t call me Rock” Johnson, Seann William Scott, and […]
30 Days of Night
David Slade’s adaptation of the vampire graphic novel quickly becomes mess and while having one or two decent moments, it is for the most part and unmemorable failure.Josh Hartnett stars as the police chief of a small Alaskan town that doesn’t see the sun for thirty days every winter. As he investigates a series of […]